Dec. 13, 2010

Dear Family,

Highlights: Baptisms-Got defecated on by a Bird- Ward Christmas Party-So many people to talk to!

This week has been pretty busy. We have some solid investigators! They are all great! There were a couple baptisms this week, so we need to make a massive effort on finding new people to teach. Although Hyde Park is tourist central, we run into many locals. Some are hardhearted! but there are also many who are willing to listen. I love it. I cannot wait to get appointments with the potentials we found this week.

The ward Christmas party was on Saturday and it was so much fun. Everyone was having a great time and all the missionaries in the ward did a little musical number. It was pretty funny. The members in Hyde Park are really supportive and they love having us over. I have gotten to know many of them and they are just so strong in the gospel.

Can you send me pictures of when we got sealed in the temple and just some other family pictures because there is a part member family that we want to try and get familiar with.Oh yea, they are both Filipino and she speaks Ilocano! The wife of the member is a little hesitant to have missionaries over because the old ones who taught her were a little too pushy, but we were able to talk to her and her husband this past week and we were able to get an appointment with them at the end of the month. My Ilocano was a little sketchy, but it was good enough. Church is true. Rely on the spirit and everything will be fine.

Time is up. These are pictures of families in Enfield! They are the best.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Dec. 6, 2010

Dear Family,

Hyde Park is very hectic. The tubes are crazy. This morning, as we were heading into the office, I was leaning on my companion because we could barely fit. I love peak times.

Right now the teaching is going great. We have super solid investigators who are right on track. Last night we also had a dinner appointment with the Zamoras. They are Filipino. The Hyde Park ward probably has the biggest group of Filipino LDS in the country. The first day I got here, we were able to find a couple of Filipino potentials!

Since we also have a couple of ysa investigators, we also go to Britannia! I think that it is the only singles ward in England!? It is massive and the members are outstanding. Many of them are RM's and they have great words of wisdom. I know that through diligence and hard work, miracle WILL take place here in the area. I love what it says in PMG. Its something like, " The secret to missionary work is work....." and then it keeps on going. The work is fun, and I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the Bible as well as The Book of Mormon are true. I have to go.

Zone conference: Extraordinary missionaries are those who are perfect in the simple/basic things, rather than being involved in complex teachings.

- "Out of Complexity, find simplicity"- Einstein

Love,

Elder Resolme

Nov. 22, 2010

Dear Family,

Work is going well. Everything is coming natural to me now. I love finding and teaching. Being able to teach about truth is the best. This past week, I was able to go on a work over with the zone leaders to Watford. During the work over, we were originally supposed to teach an investigator about the restoration, but she was not there so we taught her mother, a recent convert, instead. This has to have been the most interesting/funniest appointments I have ever participated in. We brought along with us an inactive member to help him strengthen his testimony, but throughout the lesson, the RC and LA were going on multiple topics. At one point the RC and LA held hands and started having some sort of weird moment. I have no idea how it happened, but the Zone leader and I could barely keep our laughter in. Every time I would burst, I would look at my name tag and focus, but it was so hard! Being a missionary and consistently meeting/talking to new people is so fun.

I also was able to drive!!! I thought that they were joking when they told me I had to drive, but they were serious. The missionary I was with did not get his UK license, and he was already there for over a year, so his US license was invalid. I drove out of Enfield to Watford and I almost hit a couple of things, but everything was fine. Driving on the opposite side is different, but luckily the car I drove was an automatic.Good times.

Anyways, The church is true. When we share our message of Christ, my testimony gets stronger and stronger. There are many instances where I get easily frustrated and upset, but I know, that the trials I face are in no comparison to that of the Saviors. I have been doing my Atonement study as a new missionary and I am about halfway done. Although my understanding on the Atonement is limited, I know enough to help me overcome anything. One of the approaches that I use when talking to people on the street is, " My friend and I are sharing a message about how through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome anything." At the beginning of my mission, I was just going through the words so that I could talk to someone, but now, I say it because I know its true.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Nov. 15, 2010 - Chicken

He loves his chicken.

Dear family,

Everything is good in London. The work is moving forward. My scripture studies have been revolving around Abinadi and his fearlessness. Why can't we all be like Abinadi and express our love for our Savior by stating the truth with boldness?

Mosiah 16:13

And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Jesus Christ ye can be saved?

Mosiah 17:18

And in that day ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies , and then shall ye suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire.

I have learned to become bold when I teach. Having this strength shows investigators how important the things we teach are. Being bold is good, but there are different degrees we can take it. Most of the time, we do not take it to where we rebuke, like Abinadi, but sometimes it happens on the street. I still have so much to learn concerning Christlike attributes.

Love,

Elder Resolme

Nov. 8, 2010

Dear Family,

This week has been full of surprises. The week consists of District meeting, closed tubes, appointments falling through, and other good stuff.

Lately our teaching pool has been growing, but it just seems like there is no time in the day to do anything. Our new standard for missionary work in the ELM has now changed drastically. We are now recommended to have nineteen hours of finding a week. With all our appointments it will get down to the wire, and getting those hours will get a little tight, but this week should be so much fun.

Finding has gotten really exciting as well. I now find it entertaining to stop people in the street and put them in an awkward situation. Our leader told us to get used to it because that is what missionary work is about when street contacting. Nobody expects anyone to talk about prophets or eternal families on the street. Its great!! I remember Elder La Rosa talking to me about how it will start getting dark around five, and unfortunately it has started... Tracting has been difficult because it is completely dark around five thirty and when we knock on peoples doors, they act as if it were eleven at night.

Right now we have a couple baptismal dates, but we had to drop one due to family complications. Another is set for next month, but today we are going to try and set it for this month. His name is Francis Amadu. He is a great person and he wants to start coming to church. He feels that the things we are teaching are true, so we are currently preparing him for baptism. We will also try to set a couple others today, depending on the spirit. Helping others come to Christ here in London is pretty challenging, but it builds a love for God and a stronger faith in His Son when trials and unexpected situations occur. I am grateful for the harsh rain that seeps into my clothes, the appointments that fall through, and the people who have a negative reaction towards my companion and I, because without it, I would not know the sweet from the bitter.

Sorry about all the short letters, I think I will have time today to send more than a sticky note.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Nov. 1, 2010

Dear Family,

All is well in Enfield. On Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference and it was amazing. All of the speakers were fantastic, but the Sunday session was a little hectic. We originally had three investigators who were going to go to the conference, but a couple were not able to, so we ended up with one. That Sunday morning around eight, one investigator said he wanted to come! We tried our hardest finding him a ride. I wish that our stake center was close, but it is about a forty minute bus ride and about an hour tube ride. Although time was limited and the transportation was tight, we were relieved to find him a ride with Brother/Sister Shah. Sometimes the work can get stressful, but through hard work and diligence, the work will progress.

I am so grateful for all of the people we have to teach. I am learning so much from them. Everytime I teach, my testimony grows. In order to progress, we cannot just lay back and day dream, we have to take action and go to work. I always used to think that my faith was not strong enough, but luckily, I have come to the understanding that ones faith is part determined by diligence. Faith is essential in the work, so I try and apply what President Hinckley's father told him when he was struggling on his mission, " Forget yourself, and go to work."

I also just wanted to let you know, that i am still able to have my favorite food almost everyday. I know it is not the best, but I have chicken all the time.My new companion, Elder Allen, has got me hooked onto these little shops. There all little chicken stores everywhere. Some are even right next to eachother. I will send pictures of them later.

Love,Elder Resolme

Oct. 16, 2010

Dear Family,

This week has been full of meetings and work overs. On Monday we had family home evening at Sister Okloos. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had work overs. I was stayed in Enfield with our zone leader on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday i was able to go to Hayes with the missionary from Sweden, Elder Engelbrekston. Zone meeting was also on Wednesday. After the meeting we went to Nandos! I've been waiting months to go there. The chicken is really good!

I am finally at the point where I feel like I have been apart of missionary work for my whole life. I can't see myself doing anything else. It is such a humbling experience. This week I have been working very hard on my lessons and I know that only through the power of the Holy Ghost am i able to remember and apply these things to teaching. It is amazing how the spirit works. I look forward everyday to my personal studies so I can gain more knowledge about the scriptures and doctrine, but there is just not enough time, especially this past week. there is an advantage to having a companion that is District leader, but there are also many disadvantages, like no time to study. I now just try and find every opportunity to learn more.

Last night we learned who was getting transferred out of the area. We held a conference call with all of the missionaries from the zone. We all contemplated who was going where and then the actual details were given by the zone leaders. Elder La Rosa will be transferring Monday to an area a couple hours away. He has been a great trainer and I have learned many things from him. I know that his training will help me grow into a powerful teacher. My new companion will be a missionary named Elder Allen. Although it will be a change, I know I will be able to learn a good amount from him as well. I think he is from Utah.

Fasting is an important command that members should not take lightly. It was given to us out of love so that we might be able to grow spiritually and come closer to our Heavenly Father. This act brings forth many blessing in heaven (Malachi 3:10). It is still the middle of the month, but somehow I have almost depleted my missionary card?! I could not believe it. I am so excited to finally experience the time at the end of the month where missionaries run out of food money. These next weeks will be so fun! I cant wait to start fasting! God works in mysterious ways.

Mobs and armies may assemble, but the truth will go forward boldly to every nation. Have no fear because the Lord is with thee. Go and do.

Love,
Elder Resolme